A Shifting Land

Chapter 28

Shadows enveloped the cliff, jagged edges leading into a dark center with faint paths leading all across the edges. Gravel fell, a wolf stumbling slightly as it hugged the edge of the path.

Frost landed, his feet sliding into a set of tracks. A ripple spread out in front of them, the jagged face transforming before their very eyes.

Kiri lost his shift, falling to the ground with a thump. His mouth hung open, his eyes greedily taking in every sight. Ships hummed, their wings folding neatly against themselves as they landed on the runway.

"What.... Is....."

Frost glanced down to the kit beside him. "This is what you can do with a brain and technology."

Buildings, neatly crafted from the earth and carved into the very land they worked from twisted with the rocks around them. The paths were wide, making it easy for wagons to pass one another.

Wolves trotted on their routes, many of the pack members stepping out of the way as their alpha strode past, head high.

Kiri ran to keep up, his short legs drumming against the path to try and catch up.

The pack gathered close, cutting him off from Frost the second they considered the distance safe. They stared down at the pup, their eyes narrowed. "Who are you pup?"

Light flashed, a bolt of lighting jumping from tower to tower with a blistering display of sparks.

The wolf shifted back, lightning curling up into his form, pale golden fur wrapping across white lines. His grizzled face tilted back and forth, "He is alpha minded!"

Mutterings broke out through the wolves, one reaching out to give Kiri a hard shove. "Why did Alpha Frost return with you and another? He never returns with strays. Just their guts and blood adding to his colour."

Kiri raised his lips, trying to track where Frost had gone. "What does it matter? He has kidnapped my packmate. I do not wish to leave him alone with her."

The packs shared a glance. "Who exactly consists of your pack if both alpha members are here?"

Kiri snarled, standing as tall as he could. He seemed to grow before their eyes, only a foot shorter then some of their shortest members. "What exactly does it matter what my pack relations are with my lands? I do not see myself questioning you on yours. Would you like to answer me as to why Frost,"

The wolves gasped as the lack of respect.

"Why Frost," He repeated, "Was on my land and kidnapping my people?"

The older wolf flattened his ears, his eyes narrowed. "Respect the pack you're in now boy."

"Respect is earned, not bartered for." Kiri snapped back. "Where is my respect as an alpha? Hm? Now move. I must see to the health and safety of my packmate."

"Sir?" Called one wolf, a younger female with a dingy brown pelt and comically long legs. "What would you like us to call you?"

Kiri glanced back over his shoulder at her. "Alpha Rian is suitable."

He loped ahead, his nose twitching as he tracks Frost's scent. It vanished into a burrow, the cave like system opening up around him in arching walls and deep greens and browns as he slunk down.

Kiri inhaled again, sterile scents nearly suffocating him. He stumbled, blinking rapidly as the cloying scents attacked him. They soaked him, scrubbing the dirt and grime of weeks before out of his fur.

Wind howled, whisking him up off his feet as bits of fur whipped off of him, up into a vacuum. He squeaked, paws paddling as he tried to escape.

It lasted seconds, though it felt more like hours to him before silence retook the hall. He scrambled forward and shot the innocent tunnel a wide eyed look.